Culture

Typically grown in medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Less floriferous if grown in part shade. Well-drained soil is the key to growing this plant well. Tolerant of drought. Cut or sheer plants stems back by 1/3 after flowering to encourage new growth and to maintain compact habit. In cold winter climates, mulch plants with a modest covering of evergreen boughs in winter to help minimize potential damage from sun scorch and desiccation. Plant foliage often benefits in winter from snow cover. Stems may root where they touch the ground creating new plants which can be left as is or transplanted to other areas.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Iberis sempervirens, commonly called candytuft, is a low-growing, spreading, woody-based, herbaceous perennial or sub-shrub which typically forms a foliage mound rising to 6-12” tall and spreading to 18” wide or more. It is native to southern Europe. It is evergreen in warm winter climates, but semi-evergreen in cold winter climates where the foliage may become straggly or otherwise suffer significant decline in harsh winters. Small, pure white, 4-petaled flowers in dense, flattened clusters (corymbs) appear in a profuse, early-to-late-spring bloom (March-May), the density of which often totally obscures the foliage beneath. Flowers sometimes gradually age to light pink. Numerous, oblong, entire, narrow, dark green, leathery leaves (1-1.5” long).

Genus name comes from the Greek word iberis indicating a plant from Iberia.